Like a juror: Madonna does NYC jury duty, briefly

Jennifer Peltz Associated Press

Posted:
07/07/2014 07:41:55 PM EDT

Updated:
07/07/2014 07:41:56 PM EDT

Click photo to enlarge

FILE - This June 1, 2013 file photo shows Madonna hosting The Sound of Change Live at Twickenham Stadium in London. The pop superstar turned up for jury duty at a New York City courthouse Monday, July 7, 2014 but was dismissed within two hours. Court system spokesman David Bookstaver says officials cut her loose because there were plenty of prospective jurors for the day?s needs. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Madonna has spent a little time living in the judicial world.

The pop superstar turned up for jury duty Monday at a Manhattan state courthouse, quickly getting dismissed.

She had gotten excused from a jury service date in May. This time, she was finished within two hours and wasn't questioned for any case, spending the wait in a clerk's office instead of in the sprawling juror waiting room.

State court system spokesman David Bookstaver said officials cut Madonna loose because there were plenty of prospective jurors for the summer day's needs, and they didn't want her presence to create a distraction in the jury selection process.

"The greater good here is that her appearance really goes to show that everyone gets called," Bookstaver said. "The intent here was not to create a distraction to other jurors or the business of the court."

Having the Material Girl hang out in the waiting room would likely have meant stationing extra court officers there, he noted.

Madonna's spokeswoman said only that the singer did her service. She's now excused from Manhattan state court jury duty for six years.

Manhattan has a star-studded jury pool by nature, and some notables do end up weighing cases. Former "Who's The Boss?" star Tony Danza was on a jury in a drug sale case last winter, political scion and U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy served as a juror in a drug-dealing case last year, and Rudy Giuliani — while mayor — was the foreman on a personal injury civil jury in 1999.

Advertisement

Many other luminaries have showed up at Manhattan courthouses but not been picked, except to set celebrity examples of civic responsibility at "Juror Appreciation Day" ceremonies over the years. Comedian Jon Stewart, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, news anchor Tom Brokaw, New York Mets player David Wright and newswoman Barbara Walters have been among the guest stars at the appreciation fests over the years.

Welcome to your discussion forum: Click the login link below to sign in with or to set up a Disqus account or to access your social networking account. When you do, your comment should be posted immediately, provided it meets the guidelines. (What are the guidelines?.) Report abuse by flagging a comment (mouse over the comment). Comments made here are the sole responsibility of the person posting them; these comments do not reflect the opinion of The Brattleboro Reformer. So keep it civil.

OUARZAZATE, Morocco (AP) — The people are restive, the priesthood is scheming and a fanatic band of insurgents known as the zealots are plotting assassinations — and now to make matters worse, the body of a condemned cult-leader known as Jesus has disappeared from the tomb, apparently following some ancient prophecy. Full Story